Pakistan-India Trade:

Non-Trade-Related Stakes of the Pakistan-India Relationship
a challenge for their children and grandchildren to move forward and
create a more positive relationship between the two countries. The three
wars of the last six decades; unresolved and lingering political issues,
such as Kashmir, Sir Creek, and Siachen; and trade and travel restrictions
that are still stubbornly in place have not helped the situation. In addition,
new issues such as water, terrorism, and the war in Afghanistan that
have cropped up in the last decade have all added to the list of challenges
for normalizing the relationship between the two countries.
CiVil soCieTY: defYinG ConVenTions
With this backdrop, it would be reasonable to assume that the chances
of achieving a viable peace between the two countries in the near future
would be highly unlikely. In many conflict zones around the world—such
as the Middle East, the Balkans, Africa, and the Caucuses—persisting animosities
between governments have invariably trickled down to ordinary
citizens. However, strangely enough in the case of Pakistan and India, despite
their historic scars and current challenges, the positive chemistry that
exists on a people-to-people level is unmatched and unprecedented in a
way that defies convention. Whether we are speaking of personal visits in
each other’s countries, periods of study at universities, business delegation
exchanges, or simply a cab ride on the streets of Karachi or Mumbai, the
warmth displayed for the other is exceptional, unprecedented, and defies
anything one might expect. Indeed, because of this, in both countries it is
civil society that has been the strongest proponent of peace, and whenever
a window of opportunity has arisen to bring the two countries closer, it
is this demographic that has invariably risen to the occasion—sometimes
playing a pivotal role in driving the process forward, putting pressure on
politicians, and influencing public opinion.
Hawks exist on both sides and occasionally try to derail the negotiation
process, but the disproportionately large peace constituencies
that exist among both populations are simply extraordinary. Hence one
could argue that there has been a failure of the political leadership in
both countries to convert this groundswell of goodwill at the individual
and societal levels into tangible benefits for the two peoples. Therefore,
despite the many challenges on multiple fronts that exist on both sides,
| 117 |